Arizona residents voice concerns about living next door to a data center under construction

Residents living near the Menlo Digital data center under construction in Ahwatukee told a town hall that construction noise, dust, lighting, potential heat pollution, water consumption and power demand are affecting their neighborhood. Ana Marshall, who lives about 150 feet from the project, said she has filed roughly 10 noise complaints with the City of Phoenix, including reports of sound levels reaching 110 decibels inside her son’s bedroom. The Ahwatukee Community Alliance is opposing the project, which is planned to include five buildings on 38 acres and is expected to use 257 megawatts of power when it opens in early 2027.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes called for a statewide pause on approvals and construction of future data centers and urged greater transparency in agreements between developers and local governments. The article also notes that Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a three-year suspension of data center tax credits, while other projects are planned across Arizona, including a large Tract development in Buckeye and a Compass Datacenters facility in Goodyear. Some town hall participants acknowledged the concerns but argued that data centers can use less water than comparable subdivisions and that public discussions should rely on accurate information.